The value of embellishment?

wood......leather.....wool.....cotton.....paper.

i do find that natural materials can do positive things for sound. but it's so contextual that hard to make absolute statements.

these materials are tools and are valid things to use.

Leather turntable? Genius! Just think of all the leather conditioners, cleaners, creams, cloths, and brushes VPI can sell you now! I only thought my turntable sounded good, then I applied VPI Leather Moisturizer the sound before was dry and hard, now it is so much more supple! Really brings out the grain- but in a good way!

If I just HAD to have leather, maybe a well executed plinth with  clean work-stitching, color choice to satisfy a secret inner fetish?
Something you discover it's leather only by touching it.

You would have to be VERY careful with the yearly conditioner! I carefully apply near the drivers of the speakers of my speakers. Really lovely touch to  the speaker baffle, top and back panel. Turntable? I don't approve of this one. 

To each his own. I'm kind disappointed to see this is VPI approved.
I like VPI! It's a galvanizing brand, but I'm in. I dig the high dollar Tech Das and others, but I don't have that kind of setup.

"Sold a leather coat at the garage sale to a lady who was not sized accordingly.
Maybe she's gonna just cut it up and glue it to her TT."
fuzztone- you killed it! LMAO.

Back to listening-flipping side1 of  Jackson Brown-"Saturate before using"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackson_Browne_(album)
Jesse Ed Davis fan-guitar on Doctor.

Looks very tacky and haphazardly stitched together.  Doubtful the leather does anything but maximize profit for VPI. Ugly too.